NBA's OKC Thunder Set as Front-Runners for Another Championship Title in the 2025-26 Season
The Oklahoma City Thunder have emerged as the clear favorites to win the 2025-26 NBA Finals, according to multiple sportsbooks including FanDuel and DraftKings. With odds ranging from +230 to +260, the Thunder are aiming to become the first team since the Golden State Warriors to win back-to-back championships since the 2017-18 season.
The Thunder's strong odds for the upcoming season are a testament to their impressive performance in the 2024-25 season, where they clinched the NBA Championship. Other top contenders for the 2025-26 title include the Cleveland Cavaliers (+750), New York Knicks (+800), Denver Nuggets (+750 to +850), and Houston Rockets (+700 to +850).
The Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished first in the Eastern Conference this season, also have odds under +1000 to win the NBA Finals next season. The New York Knicks, who have shown a strong chance of making a deep playoff run this season, are another significant team to watch for the 2025-26 NBA Finals.
The Houston Rockets have seen a significant increase in their odds after trading for Kevin Durant, positioning them as a rising contender for the title. The Denver Nuggets, with key offseason additions, also find themselves as a Western contender for the 2025-26 NBA Finals.
Teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Los Angeles Clippers also feature as notable contenders, though with longer odds. The Boston Celtics, after roster changes, have long odds of +4500 to +6000 for the 2025-26 NBA Finals.
However, the road to the NBA Finals for some teams might be affected by injuries. Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, who have +800 odds to win the 2025-26 NBA Finals, suffered an Achilles injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and his injury status is currently unknown. This injury could potentially impact the Pacers' chances of winning the title next season.
In summary, the 2025-26 NBA Finals are shaping up to be an exciting competition with the Oklahoma City Thunder as the favorites. The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets are also strong contenders, while teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics have longer odds but could still make a surprise run for the title. The injury to Tyrese Haliburton could potentially affect the Pacers' chances, but the offseason is yet to unfold, and many roster moves and injuries could change the landscape of the 2025-26 NBA Finals.
Repeat Champions Since 2017-18
Since the 2017-18 season, no team has repeated as NBA champions. The last team to win back-to-back NBA championships was the Golden State Warriors, who won consecutive titles in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. The Oklahoma City Thunder, who won the 2024-25 title, are now aiming to break this recent trend and win back-to-back titles in 2025-26.
| Team | 2025-26 NBA Finals Odds | Notes | |--------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | Oklahoma City Thunder | +230 to +260 | Favorites, reigning champions, aiming for repeat| | Cleveland Cavaliers | +750 | Eastern Conference favorite | | New York Knicks | +800 | Strong Eastern Conference contender | | Denver Nuggets | +750 to +850 | Western contender with key offseason additions | | Houston Rockets | +700 to +850 | Rising contender | | Minnesota Timberwolves | +1700 to +2000 | Young core maturing, dark horse | | Los Angeles Lakers | +1700 | Historically a contender but longer odds | | Golden State Warriors | +1900 to +2200 | Past dynasty; still competitive | | Los Angeles Clippers | +1700 to +1800 | Veteran team with playoff experience | | Boston Celtics | +4500 to +6000 | Long odds after roster changes |
The Oklahoma City Thunder, aiming to become the first team since the Golden State Warriors to win back-to-back titles, are favorites to win the 2025-26 NBA Finals, with odds ranging from +230 to +260. Other significant contenders for the title include the Cleveland Cavaliers with odds under +1000, the New York Knicks, the Denver Nuggets, and the Houston Rockets, all with odds ranging from +700 to +850. These teams are followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Boston Celtics, who have longer odds between +1700 and +6000. The road to the NBA Finals for some teams might be affected by injuries, such as Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, whose injury could potentially impact their chances of winning the title next season. The offseason is yet to unfold, and many roster moves and injuries could change the landscape of the 2025-26 NBA Finals. Since the 2017-18 season, no team has repeated as NBA champions, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are now aiming to break this recent trend and win back-to-back titles. This season saw sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings place the Oklahoma City Thunder as the clear favorites for the upcoming tournament. These odds are a testament to their impressive performance in the 2024-25 season, where they clinched the NBA Championship. Betting sites have the Thunder, Cavaliers, Knicks, Nuggets, Rockets, Timberwolves, Lakers, Warriors, Clippers, and Celtics listed as notable contenders for the 2025-26 NBA Finals.
